Harvest at the Shadikongoro Green Scheme in the Kavango East Region has been delayed for a month due to a lack of equipment.
The manager of the Shadikongoro Green Scheme, Joseph Mutero, informed the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Ruth Masake, who visited the scheme, that the farm does not have a harvester of its own.
It now relies on a harvester, which is shared among green schemes.
Mutero fears loss if the dried maize stays long in the field.
"I have written a letter to the executive director's office so that we can request a combine harvester from Divundu Correctional Services."
Mutero indicated that there is enormous potential in Shadikongoro regarding food security, but the farm faces many challenges, leading to slow production.
"We are talking about 270 hectares that we planted, but with only two tractors. We had to work day and night; my employees can bear witness; we were not sleeping. If we could have enough tractors, I think it would also help us a lot in terms of planning and land preparation. Now that winter has arrived, we should be actively planting wheat. The pivots, which I was supposed to plant, still have maize. I am only going to plant two pivots for the entire season, of which I was supposed to plant six."
Mutero said the increase in the electricity tariff is also one of the challenges.
Masake assured the manager that a permanent solution would be sought. At the moment, she has reached out to the executive director, who has assured her that their situation is being addressed.
"On Monday they will be able to track where it is, and immediate assistance will come in so that they can harvest the little that is still remaining, and I am happy with the initiative of Joseph telling me that the ones that are totally on the ground are going to use human power to handpick them, which is a good thing. I hope the ones that are on the ground are not that much as compared to the one that's standing."
The deputy minister further encouraged the green schemes' management to come up with ways to add value to their products and reduce imports.
Masake also visited Uvhungu-vhungu and Ndongalinena green schemes in the Kavango East Region.